Peter Kirsten
Encyclopedia
Peter Noel Kirsten is a former cricket
er who represented South Africa
in 12 Tests
and 40 One Day Internationals from 1991 to 1994.
and Kirsten was enrolled at the oldest school in the country, South African College School
, also known as SACS. Kirsten represented Western Province at schools level in both rugby
(Craven Week
1972-73) and cricket
(Nuffield Week 1971-72-73). Kirsten made his debut for Western Province in first class cricket while still at school, scoring 72 runs in the second innings. At the end of the 1973 Nuffield Week, he was selected for the South African Schools team. In the subsequent match against the Northern Transvaal first class team he scored a century. He became only the fifth schoolboy to achieve this feat.
After enrolling at Stellenbosch University
he played for S.A. Universities in 1976 and 1977, scoring centuries in both matches he played in. In 1978 he played for Western Province against S.A. Universities, again scoring a century. During the 1976-77 South African first class cricket season he scored six centuries in seven innings. Kirsten became a professional cricketer in 1978. He played for Derbyshire
from 1978 to 1982 in 106 matches, scoring 7,722 runs at an average of 49.50. In South Africa he played for Western Province in 133 matches, scoring 9,087 runs at an average of 41.88. He captained
Western Province for three seasons during the 1980s, achieving the first class and One Day Tournament series double in 1981-82.
He represented South Africa in all 19 unofficial Rebel Test matches
from 1982 to 1989, scoring 1,192 runs at an average of 41.10. Kirsten also captained South Africa in 6 of these matches, winning 4 times, losing 1 and drawing 1. During his first class career he scored centuries in both innings of a match on three occasions, as well as eight double centuries, still the most by a South African batsman. In 1990 he moved to East London and became captain of the newly promoted Border
team.
At the end of 1991, South Africa was invited to rejoin the International Cricket Conference, and went on their first ever tour of India
. Kirsten played in all three ODIs, scoring 86 not out in the final match, earning him the man of the match award. Controversy surrounded the selection of the 1992 World Cup
team, when Clive Rice
, Jimmy Cook
and Kirsten were omitted from the preliminary team. All three players were stalwarts of South African cricket during the exile years. Kirsten was eventually recalled to the team and became the team's most prolific run scorer at the tournament.
Kirsten made his Test debut in 1992 against the West Indies, aged 36 years and 340 days, scoring 52 in the second innings. On the 1994 South African cricket tour of England
he scored a first class century against Sussex
, before aged 39 years and 84 days, he scored his first and only Test century against England at Leeds.
Kirsten comes from a sporting family, his father Noël Kirsten played first class cricket for Border, and younger brother Andy Kirsten for Western Province as did his youngest half-brother Paul Kirsten
. His other half-brother, Gary Kirsten
, played in 101 cricket Tests for South Africa.
at Newlands Stadium
in Cape Town. In wet conditions his ball handling abilities so impressed journalist John Reason, that special mention of this was made in his book, The Unbeaten Lions. Kirsten, aged 19, was selected to play for the Quaggas against the touring Lions. He scored 12 points as his team was defeated by 16 – 20. Following the Lions-Quagga game, he was duly selected to play for the Western Province rugby team, but in only his third match, he severely damaged his knee. It would take him out of rugby permanently.
Cricket
Cricket is a bat-and-ball game played between two teams of 11 players on an oval-shaped field, at the centre of which is a rectangular 22-yard long pitch. One team bats, trying to score as many runs as possible while the other team bowls and fields, trying to dismiss the batsmen and thus limit the...
er who represented South Africa
South African cricket team
The South African national cricket team represent South Africa in international cricket. They are administrated by Cricket South Africa.South Africa is a full member of the International Cricket Council, also known as ICC, with Test and One Day International, or ODI, status...
in 12 Tests
Test cricket
Test cricket is the longest form of the sport of cricket. Test matches are played between national representative teams with "Test status", as determined by the International Cricket Council , with four innings played between two teams of 11 players over a period of up to a maximum five days...
and 40 One Day Internationals from 1991 to 1994.
Cricket career
Kirsten first attended Selborne Primary in East London, and in 1966 scored his first century at the age of ten. In 1967 the family moved to Cape TownCape Town
Cape Town is the second-most populous city in South Africa, and the provincial capital and primate city of the Western Cape. As the seat of the National Parliament, it is also the legislative capital of the country. It forms part of the City of Cape Town metropolitan municipality...
and Kirsten was enrolled at the oldest school in the country, South African College School
South African College Schools
The South African College Schools, commonly referred to as SACS, is a primary and secondary education institution located in Newlands, Cape Town, South Africa. Founded in 1829, it is the oldest school in South Africa and one of four schools expressly named by Cecil John Rhodes to offer an annual...
, also known as SACS. Kirsten represented Western Province at schools level in both rugby
Western Province (rugby team)
DHL Western Province is a South African rugby union team that participates in the annual Currie Cup tournament. The team has won the Currie Cup on 32 occasions and has the most supporters of any Currie Cup team...
(Craven Week
Craven Week
The Craven Week is an annual rugby union tournament organised for schoolboys in the Republic of South Africa. The tournament started in July 1964, and is named after the legendary Springbok rugby union player and coach Dr Danie Craven....
1972-73) and cricket
Western Province Cricket Association
The Western Province Cricket Association is the governing body for cricket in the Cape Town region. Its representative team, Western Province, competes in South Africa's domestic competition the Supersport Series, formerly known as the Castle Cup or the Currie Cup....
(Nuffield Week 1971-72-73). Kirsten made his debut for Western Province in first class cricket while still at school, scoring 72 runs in the second innings. At the end of the 1973 Nuffield Week, he was selected for the South African Schools team. In the subsequent match against the Northern Transvaal first class team he scored a century. He became only the fifth schoolboy to achieve this feat.
After enrolling at Stellenbosch University
Stellenbosch University
Stellenbosch University is a public research university situated in the town of Stellenbosch, South Africa. Other nearby universities are the University of Cape Town and University of the Western Cape....
he played for S.A. Universities in 1976 and 1977, scoring centuries in both matches he played in. In 1978 he played for Western Province against S.A. Universities, again scoring a century. During the 1976-77 South African first class cricket season he scored six centuries in seven innings. Kirsten became a professional cricketer in 1978. He played for Derbyshire
Derbyshire County Cricket Club
Derbyshire County Cricket Club is one of the 18 major county clubs which make up the England and Wales domestic cricket structure, representing the historic county of Derbyshire...
from 1978 to 1982 in 106 matches, scoring 7,722 runs at an average of 49.50. In South Africa he played for Western Province in 133 matches, scoring 9,087 runs at an average of 41.88. He captained
Captain (cricket)
The captain of a cricket team often referred to as the skipper is the appointed leader, having several additional roles and responsibilities over and above those of a regular player...
Western Province for three seasons during the 1980s, achieving the first class and One Day Tournament series double in 1981-82.
He represented South Africa in all 19 unofficial Rebel Test matches
South African rebel tours
The South African rebel tours were a series of seven cricket tours staged between 1982 and 1990. They were known as the rebel tours because South Africa was throughout this period banned from international cricket due to the apartheid regime...
from 1982 to 1989, scoring 1,192 runs at an average of 41.10. Kirsten also captained South Africa in 6 of these matches, winning 4 times, losing 1 and drawing 1. During his first class career he scored centuries in both innings of a match on three occasions, as well as eight double centuries, still the most by a South African batsman. In 1990 he moved to East London and became captain of the newly promoted Border
Border cricket team
Border cricket team is the team representing the Border province in domestic first-class cricket in South Africa. The team began playing in March 1898....
team.
At the end of 1991, South Africa was invited to rejoin the International Cricket Conference, and went on their first ever tour of India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
. Kirsten played in all three ODIs, scoring 86 not out in the final match, earning him the man of the match award. Controversy surrounded the selection of the 1992 World Cup
1992 Cricket World Cup
-New Zealand:-Round Robin Stage:Co-hosts New Zealand proved the surprise packet of the tournament, winning their first seven games to finish on top of the table after the round robin. The other hosts, Australia, were one of the pre-tournament favourites but lost their first two matches. They...
team, when Clive Rice
Clive Rice
Clive Edward Butler Rice is a former South African international cricketer. An all-rounder, Rice ended his first class cricket career with a batting average of 40.95 and a bowling average of 22.49....
, Jimmy Cook
Jimmy Cook
Stephen James Cook is a former South African cricketer who played in three Tests and four ODIs from 1991 to 1993. His son Stephen Cook currently plays for Gauteng....
and Kirsten were omitted from the preliminary team. All three players were stalwarts of South African cricket during the exile years. Kirsten was eventually recalled to the team and became the team's most prolific run scorer at the tournament.
Kirsten made his Test debut in 1992 against the West Indies, aged 36 years and 340 days, scoring 52 in the second innings. On the 1994 South African cricket tour of England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
he scored a first class century against Sussex
Sussex County Cricket Club
Sussex County Cricket Club is the oldest of the 18 major county clubs which make up the English and Welsh domestic cricket structure, representing the historic county of Sussex. The club was founded as a successor to Brighton Cricket Club which was a representative of the county of Sussex as a...
, before aged 39 years and 84 days, he scored his first and only Test century against England at Leeds.
Personal life
Kirsten married his wife Tuffy in 1983. After retiring from cricket he published a biography with Telford Vice, In the nick of time.Kirsten comes from a sporting family, his father Noël Kirsten played first class cricket for Border, and younger brother Andy Kirsten for Western Province as did his youngest half-brother Paul Kirsten
Paul Kirsten
Paul Kirsten is a former South African first class cricketer. He is the brother of Gary Kirsten and half brother of Peter Kirsten.-External links:*...
. His other half-brother, Gary Kirsten
Gary Kirsten
Gary Kirsten is a former South African cricketer, and the World Cup winning coach of the Indian cricket team. He played 101 Test matches and 185 One-day internationals for South Africa between 1993 and 2004, mainly as an opening batsman...
, played in 101 cricket Tests for South Africa.
Rugby
In 1974, Kirsten played flyhalf for Western Province under-20 in a curtain raiser to the first test between the Springboks and the British and Irish LionsBritish and Irish Lions
The British and Irish Lions is a rugby union team made up of players from England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales...
at Newlands Stadium
Newlands Stadium
Newlands Stadium, currently referred to as DHL Newlands for sponsorship reasons, is located in Cape Town, South Africa.The stadium currently has a capacity of 51,900 people, but is not an all seater venue....
in Cape Town. In wet conditions his ball handling abilities so impressed journalist John Reason, that special mention of this was made in his book, The Unbeaten Lions. Kirsten, aged 19, was selected to play for the Quaggas against the touring Lions. He scored 12 points as his team was defeated by 16 – 20. Following the Lions-Quagga game, he was duly selected to play for the Western Province rugby team, but in only his third match, he severely damaged his knee. It would take him out of rugby permanently.
External links
- Peter Kirsten at Cricinfo
- SuperSport SeriesSuperSport SeriesThe SuperSport Series is the main domestic first class cricket competition in South Africa, first contested in 1889-90. From 1990-91 it became known as the Castle Cup, and from 1996-97 by its current title...
- South African rebel toursSouth African rebel toursThe South African rebel tours were a series of seven cricket tours staged between 1982 and 1990. They were known as the rebel tours because South Africa was throughout this period banned from international cricket due to the apartheid regime...